Turkey Point Leak Draws Inquiry

February 22, 1990|Staff reports

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is asking Turkey Point nuclear plant officials in south Dade County for a full report on a pump that leaked radioactive water on Tuesday, an agency spokesman said on Wednesday.

The problem occurred at Unit 3 of the plant, which has been closed since Feb. 5 for refueling. Spokesman Ken Clark said the federal agency wants to know ``the root cause of the problem.`` Clark said no safety problems occurred: Three workers were contaminated but received slightly more than ``background`` exposure.

``This is the type of problem we don`t want repeated,`` Clark said. ``Of course there was a problem. But there was no safety problem, no health problem, and (radioactive waste) didn`t leak into the environment.``

Florida Power & Light Co., which owns the 17-year-old plant, announced the leak on Tuesday.